BIO: John S. Barr, Jefferson County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Jean Wall

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/
http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/beers/beers-bios.htm
_____________________________________________________________________  

Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. 
Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1099-1100.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

JOHN S. BARR, register and recorder of Jefferson county, is one of the 
ablest of officials whom the administration of county affairs has 
called to Brookville. He was born in 1825, in Centre, and is of pioneer 
blood, his father, David Barr, having been a native of that county. At 
about the age of thirty, David Barr removed to Jefferson county where 
the remainder of his life was spent, his attention being given to 
agriculture and the management of his tannery. Although never prominent 
in public affairs, he was well known and highly esteemed in the 
community. He died in 1856, and his wife, Rachel (Paxton), a native of 
Maryland, passed away three years before him.
  The schools to which the subject of this biography had access in his 
youth were by no means equal to the common schools of to-day, and the 
terms were short for effective work under any system. Consequently Mr. 
Barr acquired his education under difficulties, the results of his 
efforts being decidedly creditable to him. For several years in early 
life he followed the tanner's trade. In 1854 he was elected constable 
in Union township and was re-elected in 1855; in 1857 he moved to Troy 
(now Summerville), Penn. In 1864 bought the "Oak Hall Hotel" at 
Brookville. In 1871 he became engaged in the livery business. In 1872 
he was elected sheriff of the county, and in 1880 he built the "St. 
Cloud Hotel" at DuBois. In 1882 He took charge of the "American 
Hostel."  In 1883 he became proprietor of the "Red Lion Hotel" at 
Pittsburg, and conducted it four years. In 1887 he moved to 
Punxsutawney, where for seven years he was connected with different 
hostelries: "City Hotel," the "National Hotel," and the "Hotel 
Pantall."  In 1895 he was elected register, recorder, and clerk of the 
Orphans' Court of Jefferson county, and his efficient work in these 
positions was rewarded by a re-election, in 1896, by a plurality of 
2,327.  Mr. Barr is a veteran of the Civil war, having served a year in 
the 57th P.V.I.  He is an active and influential worker in the 
Republican party, and socially is identified with the K. of P., the 
Mechanics Union and the G.A.R.
  In 1850 Mr. Barr was married to Miss Susan Weirich, of Jefferson 
county, who died leaving one daughter, Agnes, now the wife of R. T. 
Kelley.  By a second marriage, with Miss Nancy Siar, of Jefferson 
county, also now deceased, there were two children (both deceased).  
Mr. Barr formed another matrimonial union, this time, January 1, 1857, 
with Nancy J. Anthony, who is prominent in philanthropic work as a 
member of the Baptist Church.  They have five children: Elizabeth (wife 
of James McDonald), Samuel P., John W., George M., and Blanche (wife of 
John D. Evans, deputy register and recorder of Jefferson county).